Nut-lock



(MMM) F. P. ROBB.

NUT LOCK. No. 326,333. Patented Sept. 15, 1885.

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llllg AWITJV'ESSEAS IfVEJV'TOR UNITED STATES PATENT lEETCE.

FRANK F. ROBB, OF MONONGAHELA CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

NUT-LOCK.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,333, datedSeptember l5, 1885.`

(No model.)

To all r11/tom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK F. ROBE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Monongahela City, Washington county, Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof-the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form part of this specication.

This invention has relation to nut-locks; and it has for its object theprovision of a nutlocking device which shall be specially adapted foruse on railroad-rails.

In many forms of nut-locking expedients it is necessary to construct thenut itself in a particular shape, so as to afford a purchase or hold forthe key or other device which interlocks with or bites into the nut.Hence such nut-locks are, for this reason as well as for others,objectionable, and, except to a limited extent, impracticable, since theordinary plain nut cannot be used and has to be discarded.

My invention contemplates the use of the common form of nut, and isdesigned with special reference to the employment thereof, without theaddition of any special constructive features.

Where the nuts are. applied to the splices or 3o joints ofrailroad-rails, they-are usually arranged in pairs-that is, with twonuts on their bolts in close proximity, there being four bolts toasplice, with two on either side of the joint.

My invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of alocking-brace, which forms a connection between two adjacent boltsindependently of the fish-plates, and which is so formed and placed thatthe ends of its spiral terminals, which encircle the two bolts inopposite directions, will obtain a firm purchase upon and bite intotheunder side of the nuts and effectually prevent them from turning ontheir bolts and becoming loose.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of thenut-lock as applied to a pair of bolts; Fig. 2, a plan view of thelocking-brace; and Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section of a rail withsplice-plates, bolts, and nut-locking brace.

A A designate the ends of two meeting-rails. B IB are the splice-plates;C C', a pair of bolts `surfaces of the nuts.

with nuts D D, and E is the locking-brace, all conforming to theconditions of my invention.

As suggested, the bolts and nuts are of the ordinary construction, nospecial shape being required to accommodate and render effective thelocking-brace which embodies my improvement. The said brace consists ofa bar of steel or other suitable metal, made, preferably, rectangular orsquare in cross-section, and out from a straight bar of suitabledimensions, the cuts being taken at right angles to the axis of the bar.

After the blank is made the ends are bent around to form spirals b b',curving, respectiv'ely, in opposite directions, and of a diameter toeasily encircle the ends of the bolts to which they are to be applied.rIhe pitch or cant of the spirals is toward the outer side of the bar,so as to project at their extremities toward and impinge against theinner faces or When the brace is applied, as shown in Fig. 1, thespirals encircle the two bolts, one from below and the other from abovethe bolts respectively.

In forming the brace the extremities thereof are pinched, as shown at on, so as to increase the transverse area of the biting ends of thespirals, in order that, when the spirals are pressed down flat againstthe splice-plate by the nuts the ends will project outward beyond thesurface of the brace sufliciently to bite into the nuts. At the sametime, as the expansion of themetal of the brace is in bothdirectionsthat is, toward the inner as well as toward the outer surface,as shown in Fig. 3'-the ends of the spirals will bite into thesplice-plate as well as into the nuts. The interconnection of the twobolts by a single splice effectually prevents either nut from turninglreversely. It also prevents the canting or tipping of the spirals thatwould take place in the oblong holes of the splice-barsfan importantcondition to be observed in order to render the brace effectual.

I am aware that it is not new to construct a nut-lock in the form of aspiral bar or ring adapted to encircle the bolt, and having its endsbent up out of the helicoidal plane, the object of such constructionbeing to cause. the end of the bar to bite into or obtain a purchase onthe inner surface of the nut. I therefore do not claim suchconstruction, my invention being specifically a spirally-bent nutlockingbar, having the extremity of the spiral ties sp read or flared,substantially as described, I 5

and for the purpose set forth.

2. A spirally-bent nut-locking bar having the extremity of the spiralspread or flared to forni a projection or tooth which will bite into orobtain a purchase on the nut, as set forth. 2o

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this29th day of January, 1885.

FRANK F. RoBB.

Witnesses:

MoLEoD H. THOMSON, ERNEsT H. GHAVE.

